Daniil Medvedev overcomes cramps to reach fourth round but Cameron Norrie knocked out at Miami Open

The Russian is the favourite in the absence of some big names

The top seed is into the fourth round (Getty Images)

Top seed Daniil Medvedev pushed through the pain of leg cramps to defeat Australian Alexei Popyrin and move through to the fourth round of the Miami Open.

The world No 2 claimed the first set and had been cruising before Popyrin fought back from 5-2 down in the second to snatch the set courtesy of a consistently impressive forehand.

The Russian began to cramp hard amid the southern Florida heat and humidity in the third, but aided by gulps of electrolyte drinks and massage at the changeovers he managed to eke out a 7-6 (3) 6-7 (7) 6-4 victory.

Briton Cameron Norrie fell to Taylor Fritz despite forcing a decider against the American.

The 25-year-old had nine aces but could only break the 22nd seed once, while Fritz broke Norrie three times en route to a 6-4 3-6 6-1 win.

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Emil Ruusovuori, who knocked out third seed Alexander Zverev in the previous round, continued his winning ways with a 4-6 6-1 7-5 victory over Sweden’s Mikael Ymer.

The Finn will next face Italian teenager Jannik Sinner, who caused an upset as he fought back to beat Russian 14th seed Karen Khachanov 4-6 7-6 (2) 6-4.

American 18th seed John Isner, who won the tournament in 2018 and 2019, fired 16 aces in a 7-6 (5) 7-6 (5) win against Canada’s 11th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, while Roberto Bautista Agut came from behind to defeat Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6 6-3 6-2.

PA